Breast Cancer – A Second Opinion

When a breast exam or mammogram shows something suspicious, your physician refers you for a biopsy. Biopsy is a procedure that collects cells or tissue samples from the affected breast, and the sample sent for testing in a laboratory. If the test returns positive, it indicates cancer is present. Your doctor will refer you to a cancer specialist, or to a cancer hospital for further treatment. If you receive a diagnosis of breast cancer, you must have a good understanding of every option available to you. You and your family must feel empowered to reach the best decision based on your medical needs.

The cancer specialist (oncologist) will try to get as much information about your previous diagnosis and treatment, if you received treatment. Some oncologists will give their opinion and send you back to your primary doctor for treatment. If the primary doctor was your family doctor, gynecologist, or some other specialist, then chances are you now begin treatment with the oncologist who you saw for a second opinion, or you may opt to see another oncologist and get another opinion. A medical second opinion entails consulting another physician or medical institution to compare, confirm, and, to review the first diagnosis and/or a proposed treatment option. The second opinion is a crucial step in the final treatment decision as the patient is suffering a serious disease that is life threatening. Patients themselves are able to make informed decisions regarding their treatment from independent research.

If you decide to see another oncologist because you and your family want to tap every resource available, ask your doctor for a referral to another oncologist or a cancer hospital. Most women diagnosed with breast cancer choose to receive second opinions when they are making decisions for treatment options. Second opinions are largely reliant on previous medical reports.

Errors occur commonly in interpreting the diagnosis of cancer, i.e. pathological stage, margins, etc. Guidelines of the National Cancer Institute and American Cancer Society strongly urge a second pathological review as sometimes the error rate can be as high as 50%. The second opinion may also differentiate between a benign and malignant tumor, the need for re-excision, and treatment modality by radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

Second opinions can also help by confirming a diagnosis and the choice of treatment.